Nevada County picayune., 1887-06-22

II declare l was never so sur prised,' she said. "l thought he was in love with that little girl. An! there she comes."
 She hurried away as she spoke iu assumed terror. The next mo- ment I saw Fife speak to her, and white paper pass into her hand. Whatever it was she knew and would tell me. She did. That evening she brought a letter into my roOm-a letter that Mrs. Bray had exhibited to all the house-a love letter from Harry Heathcote, tenderer and more passionate than any he had ever written to ne. and with his undoabted signature at it's foot. It was no forgery. l even knew the paper, rare and costly kind, with his own monogram up on it. It began ''Darling,' and ended "Your own Harry" l did not scream, l did not swoon; 1 faced the terrible truth as best l might. She had won him fl om me; but was in no wise to blame. 1 was true. l was sinned against, not shining, and the blow should not crush me.
 1 did not even allow myself to play the mOurner. Contempt of my lover had taken the place of love.
 He would know I did not grieve for him; and I asked good old Mr.. llalloran to be my escort to the party next evening with smile on my face, though my heart ached sorely and life seemed cold and cruel thing to me.
 They told me I was gay that night. 1 chatted, 1 ate and drank, I danced whenever 1 was asked to do so. All the while the words of that letter Harry had written to Mrs. Bray were in my heart.
 When old Mir. Halloran took me l had "wearIed myself out and was beginning to feel it." But 1 was strong yet.
 As l went up stairs old Mrs. Horton looked out Of her room.
 "Your beau was here to- night" she said. II expect he was cut up to find you out, but Mrs. Bray took care of him."
 I tried to laugh. All my life ! felt l must now laugh when l had rather cry. must hide my heart. No one should ever call me dis appointed'' woman. No one should speak of me as one who had been tilted.
 wrapped myselfin my dressing gown and sat before the fire. I could not sleep. could not even lie down. The clock struck l2, l. }, and still 1 watched the dying em' bers. Ten minutes more had gone by, when suddenly frightful shriek rang through the house. another and another. I rushed to the door. Other people were in the entry. The shrieks came from Mrs. Bray's room, and ere we could open it, it was flung wide and she rushed toward us, her long white night robe all sblaze, horrible moving column of fire.
 don't know what l thought. 1 don't know what I did. cannot remember anything more until l had her down upon the floor with a blanket 1 had snatched from pile that lay on the table in the en- try wrapped about her. l heard myself crying: "Lie still and you will save your face" And l saw the flames coke out, and the light black finder floating about me, and I knew that l had at least sav- ed her from being quite burned to death. Soon 1 knew that l had saved her life.
 IL was night again when some one came to my door and told me that Mrs. Bray wished to see me. Of course I went to her. She was lying in her bed, wrapped in ban. dages, and she could not stir. but looked at me earnestly.
 "Send them out of the rOom," she said, "l want to speak to you alone"
 And when the nurse had closed the door between herself and Mrs. Horton, she looked at me again in the same strange way.
 "You saved my life," she said. "Yes, and I remember what you said: Lie still and you'll save your face.' Most women would have liked me to have spoiled my face had l used them SO. And you don't know the world. either Go to that desk. There's letter there. It's yours. l wanted to make you jealous, and l wrote to your beau to ask his escort somewhere. Two notes came at the same time to the house. l knew very well that there was a mistake made-that mine had been put into your en- vel0pe and yours into mine. l scratched your name out of that one you have there and showed it about to make you jealous. He's as true as steel to you. love you for saving my tace, and tell you that. Now, try to forgive me-"
 was too happy to do anything else. 1 knew that what she said was true. And when she asked me 1 stopped down and gave her kiss